Battery structure

Abstract

This invention relates to a battery structure with improved safety. The battery structure includes: at least two batteries disposed axially parallel to each other, positive terminals thereof facing opposite directions, negative terminals thereof facing opposite directions; an insulating material covering each of the batteries; and a connecting member provided at an end of the at least two batteries for connecting the positive terminal of one of the batteries with the negative terminal of the other battery. The connecting member includes: a negative terminal connector attached to the other battery so as to come into contact with the negative terminal of the other battery; and a bus bar connected at one end portion thereof to the positive terminal of the one battery. The negative terminal connector has a socket into which the other end portion of the bus bar is to be inserted. The tip of the other end portion of the bus bar in the direction of insertion into the socket is chamfered so that it does not impair the insulating material.

1. A battery structure comprising:
 at least two batteries disposed axially parallel to each other, positive terminals thereof facing opposite directions, negative terminals thereof facing opposite directions; 
 an insulating material covering each of the batteries; and 
 a connecting member provided at an end of the at least two batteries for connecting the positive terminal of one of the batteries with the negative terminal of the other battery, 
 wherein the connecting member includes:
 a negative terminal connector attached to the other battery so as to come into contact with the negative terminal of the other battery; and 
 a bus bar connected at one end portion thereof to the positive terminal of said one battery, 
 
 the negative terminal connector includes:
 a cylindrical portion fitting to the end portion of the other battery on the negative terminal side; and 
 a flat plate facing the bottom of the other battery on the negative terminal side, and the flat plate has a socket into which the other end portion of the bus bar is to be inserted in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the other battery, 
 
 the tip of the other end portion of the bus bar in the direction of insertion into the socket is chamfered, and 
 the other end portion of the bus bar has a step that protrudes toward the flat late when the other end portion is inserted into the socket. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the socket of the negative terminal connector is prismatic. 
     
     
       3. A battery structure comprising:
 at least two batteries disposed axially parallel to each other, positive terminals thereof facing opposite directions, negative terminals thereof facing opposite directions; 
 an insulating material covering each of the batteries; and 
 a connecting member provided at an end of the at least two batteries for connecting the positive terminal of one of the batteries with the negative terminal of the other battery, wherein: 
 the connecting member includes:
 a negative terminal connector attached to the other battery so as to come into contact with the negative terminal of the other battery; and 
 a bus bar connected at one end portion thereof to the positive terminal of said one battery, 
 
 the negative terminal connector includes:
 a cylindrical portion fitting to the end portion of the other battery on the negative terminal side; and 
 a flat plate facing the bottom of the other battery on the negative terminal side, and the flat plate has a socket into which the other end portion of the bus bar is to be inserted in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the other battery, 
 
 the tip of the other end portion of the bus bar in the direction of insertion into the socket is chamfered, and 
 the flat plate of the negative terminal connector has a protrusion to come into contact with the other end portion of the bus bar upon insertion into the socket, and the protrusion is provided at least in front of or behind the socket in the insertion direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The battery structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is in the shape of a line, dots, or an oval. 
     
     
       5. The battery structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the other end portion of the bus bar has an insertion-depth defining protrusion to abut against an opening edge of the socket to define the depth of insertion into the socket. 
     
     
       6. The battery structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the socket of the negative terminal connector is prismatic. 
     
     
       7. The battery structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the other end portion of the bus bar has an insertion-depth defining protrusion to abut against an opening edge of the socket to define the depth of insertion into the socket.